I've been loading a while, finally got myself a bolt gun in .308 and cooked up some hopeful deer hunting loads on the ole 650 along with a paper puncher (had a box of AMAX on the shelf).
Here's my data for the batch I shot today:
RIFLE BARREL TWIST
TIKKA T3 22 7/16 1:11
CALIBER BRASS BULLET POWDER PRIMER OAL FPS (AVE)
308 REM 165 Nosler Partition 44gns Varget CCI 200 2.80 2640 (HUNTING LOAD)
308 REM 168 Hornaday AMAX 42gns Varget CCI 200 2.80 2480 (TARGET ROUND)
Accuracy was great in both loads out to 200 yards (furthest I felt I could shoot accurately today with the insane wind). No signs of over pressure. It appears that I could get another ~200fps or so, but I doubt deer or pigs would notice the difference inside 500 yards. The 165s had very low recoil and that was a bonus. I can go up 2 more grains on both per the book, but I am looking for an all around load that I can also shoot in the summertime.
It was ~40 degrees today and my concern with going up in charge is a possible over pressure condition in the summer. The last place I lived (Hawaii) I didn't have to worry about extreme temp changes.
Can anyone chime in here? I have read and have been told that Varget plays well with temperature changes, looking for more opinions on that.
I know this load requires further development to truly get the most out of it, but I may just leave well enough alone for this trip. Looking for any other pet loads you may have for this caliber.
Thanks
Vood
Here's my data for the batch I shot today:
RIFLE BARREL TWIST
TIKKA T3 22 7/16 1:11
CALIBER BRASS BULLET POWDER PRIMER OAL FPS (AVE)
308 REM 165 Nosler Partition 44gns Varget CCI 200 2.80 2640 (HUNTING LOAD)
308 REM 168 Hornaday AMAX 42gns Varget CCI 200 2.80 2480 (TARGET ROUND)
Accuracy was great in both loads out to 200 yards (furthest I felt I could shoot accurately today with the insane wind). No signs of over pressure. It appears that I could get another ~200fps or so, but I doubt deer or pigs would notice the difference inside 500 yards. The 165s had very low recoil and that was a bonus. I can go up 2 more grains on both per the book, but I am looking for an all around load that I can also shoot in the summertime.
It was ~40 degrees today and my concern with going up in charge is a possible over pressure condition in the summer. The last place I lived (Hawaii) I didn't have to worry about extreme temp changes.
Can anyone chime in here? I have read and have been told that Varget plays well with temperature changes, looking for more opinions on that.
I know this load requires further development to truly get the most out of it, but I may just leave well enough alone for this trip. Looking for any other pet loads you may have for this caliber.
Thanks
Vood